A great day at Phu Khieo WS

Location: Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Chaiyaphum

Date: Saturday 2nd July, 2016

Habitat: Mid- to upland forested ponds (many temporary)

The saying goes, it never rains but it pours. If you had visited Phu Khieo WS on Saturday, I think you would have really understood what that meant - on two levels. The first level was literally the weather. It had been pouring down every day during the week; so heavily floods abound throughout Thailand which cast doubt over my trip. However, with a little persuasion from my brother (not that I needed much), it was game on. At the sanctuary, though it had been clearly ravaged by the rains, it only rained slightly all day. The second level were the dragons themselves. Though in small numbers, I still managed to find two new species for my records (along with a possible third). Something I haven't managed to do in NE Thailand for a long time. So, why am I spotting additional species now that I didn't spot last year? Simply, it's all about location. Previous trips took me to some of the more obvious locations: enormous marshy areas, rivers and streams and other easy to spot ponds. This trip, however, was all about hunting for new areas as much as it was spotting any dragons themselves. My brother even led me to a great-looking stream which runs deep under canopy cover which he told me has a decent and exposed waterfall along it. I will be visiting there the next time the weather picks up and isn't so dull. Other than that, it was stopping en route to the top every few hundred meters whenever I saw a pond or ditch (no matter how small) or even if I could make out tall grassy reeds further back I would investigate. Did it pay off? You bet it did, though I tore my body and clothes to shreds and was bitten heavily by mosquitoes and horseflies. I missed the first few ponds at the bottom  (there are so many all the way up) and decided to start about half way. It was still early and the initial ponds were quiet, especially as there was light drizzle. As the weather picked up, so did the sightings of the regular species, though numbers were very small. About 3/4 of the way up, I noticed a temporary pond that looked devoid of life and was about to drive on when in the corner of my eye I spotted something with black wings. I knew what is was straight away: Orolestes selysi, a simply stunning species I had been told had been seen at the sanctuary, but after many trips I thought it was a mythical creature (in Thailand anyway). It is known from several countries, which now includes Thailand. I am not the first person to see it here, but had to see it to believe it was here, if you get what I mean. Amazingly as I photographed the first specimen, I noticed a second. I investigated the rest of the pond searching for the female, but only managed to spot a third male and a young female Gynacantha subinterrupta for the first time at the sanctuary, boosting the species list even more. I moved on, clicking my heels as I went. As I reached the road, I caught up with my brother who was having a very quiet day on the bird front. He photographed O. selsyi specimen too just for good measure. Moving on, I hit many more ponds without seeing much. Then, at one pond, I was following a Lestes copula, I must have disturbed a large Aeshnid, which flew out from where it was resting and flew up into a tree. It was large and I knew straight away it was one of the two Gynacantha species there that had eluded me after all this time. It turned out to be Gynacantha basiguttata and I was extremely happy (the other species is G. bayadera). Moving on, I visited many more ponds without success and eventually reached to top. Instead of searching the top, I simply turned around and worked my way back down doing the same thing. I didn't manage to see any more new species - or did I? One species I have been looking for since the day I first came here was Ceriagrion pallidum, a rare species known from PK and a location in Laos. Until now it has avoided me. That said, I saw a small dirty yellowish specimen that was too small to be C. indochinense (I have seen hundreds of specimens though it could be that species). Could it be the elusive C. pallidum? Probably not, as the abdomen should be olivaceous, but I can dream. Hopefully it is a completely different species. Even then, to finish the day, I found another Gynacantha species, which is new for me at the sanctuary: Gynacantha saltatrix - a species I see on occasion in Khon Kaen I now wonder whether this species was mistaken for G. bayadera as it is a very similar-looking species. I hope not. Anyway, the sanctuary is really hitting top form and I am getting out there again next week ... hopefully I will see even more species and get a better shot of G. basiguttata.

My best shots of the day:

There are so many males this year, but the females are thin on the ground. I was happy to see this one first thing in the morning

 

Phu Khieo's mythical damselfly that is not so anymore, Orolestes selsyi

 Another new encounter for me - and a beast of one too, Gynacantha basiguttata

 Not rare in Khon Kaen, but the first time I have seen it at PKWS, Gynacantha saltatrix

 The day's conundrum. Is it? Isn't it? It could be a freakishly small Ceriagrion indochinense, but it could be C. pallidum or even a new species entirely.  I must find more of them to prove it.

Phu Khieo ... back on track

Location: Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Chaiyaphum

Date: Saturday 21st May, 2016

Habitat: a.s.l. 500-900, small ponds (some temporary) densely covered in trees

Well, following a few weeks of fairly heavy rain I decided to charge my camera once more and head out. I had recently visited Pa-la-U Waterfall in Hua Hin (I have just got married and it was my one sneaky trip on my honeymoon). Anyway, it turned out to be awful. Everything was dry and wilting - including me. I saw a few fairly common species, but the whole day was a washout - or dried out? -save spotting even more awesome elephants waddling about. So, camera back in the cupboard and waiting for the rains. Well, they finally came and with it, my enthusiasm. Now, when Saturday comes, so does my desire to get out there. I decided upon a regular place that I KNOW has many more species for me to find. Most of which are extremely rare and it will take my whole life to find. OMG what a shame ... searching for odes forever. That is such a travesty. Honest. Also, now being married and poor, it is within easy reach (two hours) and I don't have to stop there. So, Phu Khieo it was.

However, most visitors (including me) do the river and then the lakes at the top. Yet, I have done those to death and have been thinking about other species that are supposed to be there. Therefore, I decided to worm my way up the 23 road to the top ... I must have stopped 20 times. There are so many little ponds now. It took me 5 hours to do so, but I managed to spot a few new species for Phu Khieo along the way ... Ceriagrion azureum were out in force in many of the small ponds, though, oddly, the males were all very young (whiteish green) and not that striking  azure blue. However, the odd thing was that they were ALL copulating and all young males. I have seen it the other way round, but never young males. Is this normal? Who knows? Even stranger is the fact that I haven't ever seen this species here. Also, Indolestes anomalus, a species I had bumped into and was common at one small pond in Petchabun (Nam Nao), I found for the first time here. Likewise, it was abundant and all of them seemed to be busy copulating. How did I miss these species last year? 

However, I suppose the highlight of the day has to go to a common species that I regularly see but have seen for the first time. Huh? I Hear you say. Well, it is Anax guttatus, a species I come across often, but NEVER get to photograph it. I kind of only count species once I have recorded them photographically. This time, however, I got that chance and it paid off (though the background was dark). I must admit I am very happy with these photos. Anyway, things look like they are turning out for the best and I hope to add many more species this year ... 

My best photos of the day:

And my new "old" species ...

Next trip: Anywhere I can get to use my camera a lot ... I really enjoyed yesterday!

A Few Trips Around Chaiyaphum

Location 1: Tat Fa and Pha Ing Waterfalls, Tat Ton National Park, Chaiyaphum

Date: Saturday 26th March, 2016

Habitat: Lowlands (a.s.l. 400-500m, fairly densely covered in trees)

Trying to ascertain exactly what is in Issan (NE Thailand) is a difficult task. Any decent habitat is often swamped with locals escaping from the oppressive heat (and who can blame them). The worst is Tat Ton Waterfall, a place I have visited a few times, but left because of the sheer numbers of revelers. As with this trip, I did the same. However, there are two other waterfalls in the local area (actually there are three on the map, but I can't find the third, nor can the locals when asked!), and I revisited them once more. Tat Fa is the bigger of the two and is fairly open with lots of rocks in the sunshine, surrounded by trees at the edges. Sounds perfect for odes, yes? Well, maybe it is, but this place was bone dry. No water anywhere, save a few tiny puddles at the edges and water running under the rocks. Therefore, there is hope when the rains come, but not right now. The only resident (other than Pantala flavescens flitting around in the sky), was a solitary female Indothemis carnatica obviously waiting for the rains and a possible mate. After searching for a few hours, it was time to move on. Bypassing Tat Ton waterfall, there are two additional waterfalls, I opted for the one furthest away, Pha Ing Waterfall. Upon arrival, it had clearly been dammed to retain the little water that was left. I searched the area taking the odd photo of butterflies, and then I saw an orange Ceriagrion sp. perching in the grasses, deep under cover. Fortunately, it was rather placid and I could get close to it. I knew straight away that it wasn't C. chaoi as the abdomen was too slender and elongate. C. malaisei? Possibly, but it appeared to be too elongate for that species, too. I have tentatively placed it as C. malaisei ... maybe Tom Kompier can help (I have added a couple of poorly shot appendages to try and ascertain what species it is). If it can't be IDd from these photos, I will return. Other than that and a few common paddy field species, there was nothing to report. 

The Ceriagrion sp. (C. malaisei or something else?)

The terrible appendage shots (do these help at all?)

The sad-looking Indothemis carnatica, desperate for the rains, just like me!

Location 2: Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Chaiyaphum

Date: Saturday 02nd April, 2016

Habitat: Mid-Uplands (a.s.l. 850-900m, open, vasting marshland and tree-lined ponds)

Finally, a bit of good news and a positive ID that I saw last year! Indolestes Gracilis ssp. now has a name ... Indolestes gracilis expressior Kosterin, 2015. So, welcome to Thailand! My second Indolestes discovery for Thailand. I actually saw this last year and thought it would be the same as the one Oleg described from Cambodia, but I didn't get good photos of the appendages last time round so couldn't be sure. However, after 8 trips to the place where I first saw it, I managed to see it again. One record shot ... and it was gone again, carried off by the wind!!!! I sat in deep mud and almost cried. Determined, I searched again and again and again, getting dizzy from walking around in knee-deep mud staring at grass. After four hours, I was going to give up. I walked back to my bag where I had first spotted it, and there it was again! Forgetting my net, I had to cautiously use my fingers and managed to catch it! Now with decent photos of the appendages, I can be sure with the ID. 

Indolestes gracilis expressior the individual I saw last year:

The new specimen playing dead:

... and the appendages of the one I saw this time round:

The rest of the place was still dry, although I did find a new little pond that was manic with dragons everywhere, including Anax indicus and Camacinia gigantea and Ceriagrion chaoi all new records for me at this location.

A. indicus, new for Phu Khieo (provincial record?)

 A young male ... with hardly any wing colouration

 Not a very nice ending for this little fellow (mauled by a spider)

My first sighting of C. chaoi. Not the best photo, but the banking was deep and steep and full of mud. You get the idea.

Location 3: 14 kms stream, Nam Nao National Park, Chaiyaphum

Date: Thursday 07th April, 2016

Habitat: Mid-Uplands (a.s.l. 850-900m, tree-lined streams deep in forest)

This day started badly and got worse. First of all, I decided to search a number of places I frequented several years ago near Nam Nao town centre in Petchabun and was shocked to see that large area of marshland had given way to the local school development. Secondly, the brilliant little natural pond I discovered where I saw Nepogomphus walli, Idionyx selysi and the incredibly rare Phyllothemis eltoni, which was just past the town (and difficult to access), had also been raped by man. The pond itself is fine, but the trees and everything else is now full of banana trees and large areas dug out of easy access with bottles of beer and packets of whatever strewn everywhere. So, leaving the two waterfalls alone for now (too early in the season), I shot back over to Nam Nao National Park about 40-odd kilometres away. I decided against the large (and full of water) Helicopter Pad lake as I have been there a million times and headed to two great trails just further along. The first is a 4 kms walk and I have found many a great species there during my last few visits. However, this time, everything seemed different. On one side of the path the trees/scrub was heavily charred from a forest fire and all the little ponds were bone dry. The whole place was parched. I carried on, wilting in the blistering heat. I was constantly looking down into the bushes for signs of life as I walked. Suddenly, I was shocked. I had walked to the end of the 4 kms pond trail where the brilliant little natural pond was and standing there was a herd of elephants (8-10 individuals), some in the water, others on the path. I was less than 10 metres away. I crunched dead leaves under my feet as I halted. The elephants turned and looked at me. I froze. They didn't. Two started to move towards me, hesitantly. Others moved into the trees at either side of me, sounding their trunks as they went. All I could do was slowly turn and walk. I walked at pace for about 100 metres and then legged it for about 2 kms until I almost died from exhaustion. Luckily, they didn't follow or could have been dead for sure. I walked the rest of the way, jumping at every branch or leaf that fell. I made it back to the car and sat there for about 20 minutes. Finally, I decided to try the 14 kms stream trail which goes into Chaiyaphum - and you can drive there! It's a bumpy ride but you can do it. So off I went, stopping at the first stream, just a few butts and no uncommon dragons to be seen. Then, right in front of me was another, massive elephant just waddling along the path grabbing at leaves high up. It was amazing. They were everywhere and you usually don't see them at all. I think it is because we were all going for the same areas ... water! They were concentrated in small areas. Eventually it moved off and I carried on to the second stream (and only had to park 50 metres away). After all that, it was very quiet, though I did see Prodasineura doisuthepensis in Chaiyaphum for the first time and AND manage to get decent shots of it, as it is usually seriously skittish. Ad that was it, other than spotting another, even larger elephant on the pathway on the journey back slowing my progress. NE Thailand is a desperately dry place at the moment. Please rain soon or many species may disappear locally!

The solitary species I photographed ...

Next trip: God knows ... anywhere where there is water and no elephants!